The subject of this thesis is microwave assisted rapid growth of ZnO nanoparticles from an aqueous solution using different zinc precursors and heating powers, and characterization of these by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and optical microscopy. The goal of the experiment performed was to study the effect of the heating power of the microwave oven as well as that of the zinc precursor used on the morphology and size of the grown particles. ZnO nanoparticles has many interesting possible applications in a wide range of areas, such as LED-technology, medicine, antibacterial applications, solar cells and more. Also, there is still a lot of knowledge missing concerning the growth mechanisms and properties of ZnO on the nano-scale. These two facts give good reasons to continue the research and investigations of nano-ZnO. Being able to use the microwave assisted growth method in large scale is highly interesting as it is relatively cheap, safe and easy compared to other presently used methods, so there are good reasons to learn more about this technique as well. In this project it was found that both the heating power and the zinc precursor used had significant effects on the morphology and size of the grown ZnO nanocrystals, and also that adding a zinc seed layer to the surface of the substrate before growth made a big difference in some cases.

Cumarinas são metabólitos secundários de plantas encontrados majoritariamente nas espécies das famílias Asteraceae, Rutaceae e Umbeliferae. Quimicamente, são compostos fenólicos, formados pela fusão de um benzeno e de um anel α-pirona, chamados de benzopironas. Elas apresentam diversas propriedades farmacológicas, associadas com baixa toxicidade. Nosso grupo de pesquisa sintetiza cumarinas pela reação de Pechmann, que ocorre através da condensação de um fenol com um β-cetoéster, na presença de um ácido de Bronsted ou Lewis. Um dos trabalhos mais recentes foi a síntese de 6-metil-4-clorometilcumarinas com um IC50 menor do que 1,6 μM para atividade antitripanocida. Em outro trabalho, um grupo de compostos de híbridos cumarina-triazol foi sintetizado e apresentou potencial atividade como agente antitumoral. Baseado nesses trabalhos, foi planejado a síntese de análogos da 6-metil-4-clorometilcumarina via condensação de Pechmann, com diferentes substituintes na posição 6, obtidos através das reações de click chemistry, no intuito de aumentar a atividade antioxidante desses compostos. Assim, para obter esses compostos, foi realizada uma condensação de Pechmann com hidroquinona e 4-cloroacetoacetato de etila. Após, uma eterificação de Williamson com brometo de propargila foi feita. Finalmente, a reação de click chemistry foi realizada sob irradiação de micro-ondas com diversas azidas previamente sintetizadas no laboratório, conduzindo à obtenção de diversos análogos da 6-metil-clorometilcumarina que foram avaliados quanto a viabilidade celular através ensaio do MTT (brometo de 3-(4,5-dimetiltiazol-2-il)-2,5-difeniltetrazólio). Também foi testada a sua capacidade antioxidante pelo método do DCFH-DA (diacetato de 2’,7’ –diidroclorofluoresceína). Dessa maneira, sob as condições reacionais utilizadas neste trabalho, foi possível sintetizar 12 compostos inéditos com rendimentos entre 9 e 61%. Os ensaios biológicos preliminares indicaram que os compostos sintetizados apresentam potencial atividade antioxidante e algumas moléculas tiveram potencialidade como agente citotóxico. / Coumarins are secondary plant metabolites typically found in species of the Asteraceae, Rutaceae and Umbeliferae families that demonstrate diverse pharmacological properties associated with low toxicity to humans. Chemically, they are phenolic compounds characterized by the fusion of benzene with an α-pyrone ring, yielding the benzopyrone nucleus. Our research group usually synthesizes coumarins by the Pechmann reaction, through the condensation of phenols with β-ketoesters catalyzed by Bronsted or Lewis acids. One of the most recent works performed at our laboratory describes the synthesis of 6-methyl-4-chloromethylcoumarins with an IC50 of 1.6 μM concerning the anti-trypanocidal activity. Another work described the syntheses of coumarin-triazole hybrids with potential activity as anticancer agents. Based on the previous works, it was designed the synthesis of 4-chloromethylcoumarins via Pechmann condensation with several substituents at the position 6 of the coumarin ring through click chemistry reactions to improve their antioxidant activities. The synthesis of the coumarins started with Pechmann condensation using hydroquinone and ethyl 4-chloroaceacetate followed by functionalization of the phenolic hydroxyl with propargyl bromide via Williamsom ether synthesis. Subsequently, the click chemistry reactions were performed under microwave irradiation using different organic azides previously synthesized at our laboratory, yielding several 6-substituted-4-chloromethylcoumarin analogues which were evaluated for cell viability through MTT 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Their antioxidant capacity was also tested by the DCFH-DA (2’,7’–diihydrochlorofluorescin diacetate) method. Therefore, under the reaction conditions used in this study, it was possible to synthesize 12 novel compounds with yields between 9 and 61%. Preliminary biological assays indicated that the compounds synthesized have potential antioxidant activity and some molecules had potential as an antitumor agent.

Naphthenic acids (NAs) are natural constituents of bitumen and crude oil, and predominantly obtained as the by-product of petroleum refining with variable composition and ingredients. Naphthenic acids are composed of alkyl-substituted cycloaliphatic carboxylic acids, with smaller amounts of acyclic aliphatic acids. Naphthenic acids become a significant part of the tailings pond water (TPW) after separation from oil sands material. NAs are soluble in water and are concentrated in TPW as a result of caustic oil sands extraction processes. Tailings ponds near the Athabasca oil sands region near Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada are contaminated with a variety of toxic organic compounds released in industrial effluent from the oil extraction processes. NAs are among the major water contaminants in those regions because of their toxicity and environmental recalcitrance. They may enter surface water systems due to erosion of riverbank oil sands deposits and through groundwater mixing. Significant environmental and regulatory attention has been focused on the naphthenic acids fraction of oil sands material to address these challenges and potential hazards. Biological, chemical, and photolytic treatments of water contaminated with NAs have been studied, but are either time consuming or involve significant capital investment. There is a growing need to develop more efficient and cost-effective treatment methods. Based on existing literature, microwave and photocatalysis for degradation of naphthenic acids in water may be one solution. A knowledge gap exists in determining the effect of microwave energy and/or photocatalysis on the rate and extent of NAs degradation in contaminated water.<p> Part of this work included evaluation of the physical and chemical properties of NAs. Dielectric properties, important for designing a microwave system, were investigated. Effects of temperature, concentration, and frequency of microwaves on the dielectric properties of NA-water mixtures were studied and were used in designing the treatment systems for NAs. Three laboratory scale systems, (1) photocatalysis, (2) microwave, and (3) microwave assisted photocatalysis systems were designed and developed. Experiments were conducted to determine the NA degradation efficiency of these systems for both commercially available Fluka NAs and those extracted from oil sand process water (OSPW). Effects of water source (deionised and river water) and use of TiO2 catalyst in the degradation process, were also investigated. Degradation kinetics for total NAs as well as individual z-family were calculated.<p> Results show that the three developed treatment systems were able to degrade NAs at a faster rate than the methods reported to date. The concentration of higher molecular weight NAs (z = -4 to -12) decreased more significantly than the lower molecular weight NAs in all the three treatment systems. Toxicity assessments of the NAs samples before and after treatment indicated that photocatalysis and microwave assisted photocatalysis systems decreased the toxicity of Fluka and OSPW NAs completely (up to 5 min IC50 v/v > 90%). The microwave system reduced the toxicity of water containing Fluka NAs from high (5 min IC50 v/v = 15.85%) to moderate (5 min IC50 v/v = 36.45%) toxicity. However, a slight increase in toxicity was noted post-treatment in OSPW NAs.<p> Microwave-assisted photocatalysis was the most rapid degradation system for OSPW NA extracts in water with a half-life of 0.56 h in the presence of TiO2. The microwave system degraded OSPW NAs in water at a more moderate half-life of 3.32 h. The photocatalysis system was the slowest with a half-life of 3.99 h under similar conditions.<p> High and ultra high resolution analysis of NA sample, estimations of cost and further efficiency related research of the developed systems to treat water with microbial load along with chemical contaminants are recommended for future work to further validate these treatment systems.

Naphthenic acids (NAs) are natural constituents of bitumen and crude oil, and predominantly obtained as the by-product of petroleum refining with variable composition and ingredients. Naphthenic acids are composed of alkyl-substituted cycloaliphatic carboxylic acids, with smaller amounts of acyclic aliphatic acids. Naphthenic acids become a significant part of the tailings pond water (TPW) after separation from oil sands material. NAs are soluble in water and are concentrated in TPW as a result of caustic oil sands extraction processes. Tailings ponds near the Athabasca oil sands region near Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada are contaminated with a variety of toxic organic compounds released in industrial effluent from the oil extraction processes. NAs are among the major water contaminants in those regions because of their toxicity and environmental recalcitrance. They may enter surface water systems due to erosion of riverbank oil sands deposits and through groundwater mixing. Significant environmental and regulatory attention has been focused on the naphthenic acids fraction of oil sands material to address these challenges and potential hazards. Biological, chemical, and photolytic treatments of water contaminated with NAs have been studied, but are either time consuming or involve significant capital investment. There is a growing need to develop more efficient and cost-effective treatment methods. Based on existing literature, microwave and photocatalysis for degradation of naphthenic acids in water may be one solution. A knowledge gap exists in determining the effect of microwave energy and/or photocatalysis on the rate and extent of NAs degradation in contaminated water.<p> Part of this work included evaluation of the physical and chemical properties of NAs. Dielectric properties, important for designing a microwave system, were investigated. Effects of temperature, concentration, and frequency of microwaves on the dielectric properties of NA-water mixtures were studied and were used in designing the treatment systems for NAs. Three laboratory scale systems, (1) photocatalysis, (2) microwave, and (3) microwave assisted photocatalysis systems were designed and developed. Experiments were conducted to determine the NA degradation efficiency of these systems for both commercially available Fluka NAs and those extracted from oil sand process water (OSPW). Effects of water source (deionised and river water) and use of TiO2 catalyst in the degradation process, were also investigated. Degradation kinetics for total NAs as well as individual z-family were calculated.<p> Results show that the three developed treatment systems were able to degrade NAs at a faster rate than the methods reported to date. The concentration of higher molecular weight NAs (z = -4 to -12) decreased more significantly than the lower molecular weight NAs in all the three treatment systems. Toxicity assessments of the NAs samples before and after treatment indicated that photocatalysis and microwave assisted photocatalysis systems decreased the toxicity of Fluka and OSPW NAs completely (up to 5 min IC50 v/v > 90%). The microwave system reduced the toxicity of water containing Fluka NAs from high (5 min IC50 v/v = 15.85%) to moderate (5 min IC50 v/v = 36.45%) toxicity. However, a slight increase in toxicity was noted post-treatment in OSPW NAs.<p> Microwave-assisted photocatalysis was the most rapid degradation system for OSPW NA extracts in water with a half-life of 0.56 h in the presence of TiO2. The microwave system degraded OSPW NAs in water at a more moderate half-life of 3.32 h. The photocatalysis system was the slowest with a half-life of 3.99 h under similar conditions.<p> High and ultra high resolution analysis of NA sample, estimations of cost and further efficiency related research of the developed systems to treat water with microbial load along with chemical contaminants are recommended for future work to further validate these treatment systems.

No description available.

This study is aimed to compare the fluidized bed and microwave drying with microwave assisted fluidized bed drying. For this purpose, macaroni beads (2.4&plusmn / 0.08 mm diameter) were dried from about 20% to 12% moisture content in a fluidized bed of 7.6 cm diameter, in a domestic microwave oven with a power of 609 W and in the fluidized bed placed in the microwave oven conditions. In the experiments with the fluidized bed three air temperatures / 50, 60 and 70&deg / C at an air velocity of 2.3 m/s and in those with the microwave oven two power levels / 50% and 100% were used. The drying curves indicated that the drying rate increased with the air temperature and microwave power in each drying method. Microwave assisted fluidized bed drying reduced the drying time by about 50% and 11% on the average compared with the fluidized bed and microwave drying, respectively. Therefore, it was concluded that the drying time was reduced more by the effect of microwave energy than the fluidization. The effective diffusivities in the fluidized bed and microwave assisted fluidized bed drying were found to be in the order of 4.125x10-11 and 8.772x10-11 m2/s on the average, respectively. The effective diffusivities for the fluidized bed drying were fitted to an Arrhenius type of equation and the magnitude of the activation energy was found to be in the order of 12595 kJ/kg mol.

La richesse moléculaire des végétaux constitue une source importante de molécules bioactives d‘origine naturelle. La mise en évidence de ces molécules nécessite de nombreuses étapes souvent longues et couteuses. L‘objectif de cette thèse a donc consisté en l‘innovation et le développement de nouvelles méthodologies d‘extraction, de fractionnement et d‘identification de produits naturels d‘origine végétale. Pour cela nous avons utilisé comme modèle végétal l‘argousier (Hippophaë rhamnoides, Elaeagnaceae) qui est un arbuste épineux du plateau Eurasiatique connu pour sa richesse phytochimique et son potentiel thérapeutique. Ce travail a d‘abord conduit au développement d‘une méthode d‘extraction « verte » sans solvant assistée par micro-ondes, basée sur l‘utilisation combinée de la pression, de la température et des micro-ondes. Il a pu être démontré que cette méthodologie permet d‘extraire rapidement et efficacement des composés phénoliques tout en conservant un potentiel antioxydant important. Dans une seconde partie, une nouvelle approche multidimensionnelle couplant la CPC et l‘HPLC-UV-MS a été développée. Cette technique permet la séparation à l‘échelle semi-préparative et l‘identification en ligne des molécules séparées. Il a ainsi pu être identifié par HPLC-MS/MS 3 acides phénoliques et 20 dérivés de flavonols dans l‘extrait micro-ondes sans solvant de baies d‘argousier. L‘activité antioxydante et la cytotoxicité des fractions a également été étudiée in vitro et in cellulo. Enfin la dernière partie de ce travail a démontré le potentiel antioxydant et antimicrobien de différents organes de l‘argousier, qui a été corrélé à la présence flavonoïdes et de proanthocyanidine. L‘intérêt du couplage CPC-HPLC-UV-MS a également été illustré par le fractionnement de deux molécules d‘un extrait actif de racines d‘argousier. / Plant materials constitute an important source of natural bioactive molecules. Characterisation of these molecules requires often multiple, long and expensive development steps. The aim of this PhD thesis consists of innovation and development of new methods of extraction, fractionation and identification of natural metabolites from plants. We used sea buckthorn as plant model (Hippophaë rhamnoides, Elaeagnaceae) an Eurasian thorny shrub known to possess various phytochemical properties and pharmaceutical effects. In the first part of this work a ―green‖ solvent-free microwave assisted extraction, based on the combined use of pressure, temperature and microwave irradiation has been developed. This approach allows fast and efficient extraction of phenolic compounds while maintaining an important antioxidant capacity. In the second part of this work, a new multidimensional approach coupling CPC and HPLC-UV-MS was developed. This technique allows the separation at semi-preparative scale and the online identification of isolated molecules. Using this approach, 3 phenolic acids and 20 flavonols from the solvent free sea buckthorn berries extract were identified by HPLC-MS/MS. Antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of fractions were studied in vitro and in cellulo. In the last part of this work, the antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials of different sea buckthorn organs, which were correlated to the presence of flavonoids and proanthocyanidins has been demonstrated. The CPC-HPLC-UV-MS technique was also applied to the fractionation and the partial identification of compounds extracted from sea buckthorn root.

Cumarinas são metabólitos secundários de plantas encontrados majoritariamente nas espécies das famílias Asteraceae, Rutaceae e Umbeliferae. Quimicamente, são compostos fenólicos, formados pela fusão de um benzeno e de um anel α-pirona, chamados de benzopironas. Elas apresentam diversas propriedades farmacológicas, associadas com baixa toxicidade. Nosso grupo de pesquisa sintetiza cumarinas pela reação de Pechmann, que ocorre através da condensação de um fenol com um β-cetoéster, na presença de um ácido de Bronsted ou Lewis. Um dos trabalhos mais recentes foi a síntese de 6-metil-4-clorometilcumarinas com um IC50 menor do que 1,6 μM para atividade antitripanocida. Em outro trabalho, um grupo de compostos de híbridos cumarina-triazol foi sintetizado e apresentou potencial atividade como agente antitumoral. Baseado nesses trabalhos, foi planejado a síntese de análogos da 6-metil-4-clorometilcumarina via condensação de Pechmann, com diferentes substituintes na posição 6, obtidos através das reações de click chemistry, no intuito de aumentar a atividade antioxidante desses compostos. Assim, para obter esses compostos, foi realizada uma condensação de Pechmann com hidroquinona e 4-cloroacetoacetato de etila. Após, uma eterificação de Williamson com brometo de propargila foi feita. Finalmente, a reação de click chemistry foi realizada sob irradiação de micro-ondas com diversas azidas previamente sintetizadas no laboratório, conduzindo à obtenção de diversos análogos da 6-metil-clorometilcumarina que foram avaliados quanto a viabilidade celular através ensaio do MTT (brometo de 3-(4,5-dimetiltiazol-2-il)-2,5-difeniltetrazólio). Também foi testada a sua capacidade antioxidante pelo método do DCFH-DA (diacetato de 2’,7’ –diidroclorofluoresceína). Dessa maneira, sob as condições reacionais utilizadas neste trabalho, foi possível sintetizar 12 compostos inéditos com rendimentos entre 9 e 61%. Os ensaios biológicos preliminares indicaram que os compostos sintetizados apresentam potencial atividade antioxidante e algumas moléculas tiveram potencialidade como agente citotóxico. / Coumarins are secondary plant metabolites typically found in species of the Asteraceae, Rutaceae and Umbeliferae families that demonstrate diverse pharmacological properties associated with low toxicity to humans. Chemically, they are phenolic compounds characterized by the fusion of benzene with an α-pyrone ring, yielding the benzopyrone nucleus. Our research group usually synthesizes coumarins by the Pechmann reaction, through the condensation of phenols with β-ketoesters catalyzed by Bronsted or Lewis acids. One of the most recent works performed at our laboratory describes the synthesis of 6-methyl-4-chloromethylcoumarins with an IC50 of 1.6 μM concerning the anti-trypanocidal activity. Another work described the syntheses of coumarin-triazole hybrids with potential activity as anticancer agents. Based on the previous works, it was designed the synthesis of 4-chloromethylcoumarins via Pechmann condensation with several substituents at the position 6 of the coumarin ring through click chemistry reactions to improve their antioxidant activities. The synthesis of the coumarins started with Pechmann condensation using hydroquinone and ethyl 4-chloroaceacetate followed by functionalization of the phenolic hydroxyl with propargyl bromide via Williamsom ether synthesis. Subsequently, the click chemistry reactions were performed under microwave irradiation using different organic azides previously synthesized at our laboratory, yielding several 6-substituted-4-chloromethylcoumarin analogues which were evaluated for cell viability through MTT 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Their antioxidant capacity was also tested by the DCFH-DA (2’,7’–diihydrochlorofluorescin diacetate) method. Therefore, under the reaction conditions used in this study, it was possible to synthesize 12 novel compounds with yields between 9 and 61%. Preliminary biological assays indicated that the compounds synthesized have potential antioxidant activity and some molecules had potential as an antitumor agent.

Cumarinas são metabólitos secundários de plantas encontrados majoritariamente nas espécies das famílias Asteraceae, Rutaceae e Umbeliferae. Quimicamente, são compostos fenólicos, formados pela fusão de um benzeno e de um anel α-pirona, chamados de benzopironas. Elas apresentam diversas propriedades farmacológicas, associadas com baixa toxicidade. Nosso grupo de pesquisa sintetiza cumarinas pela reação de Pechmann, que ocorre através da condensação de um fenol com um β-cetoéster, na presença de um ácido de Bronsted ou Lewis. Um dos trabalhos mais recentes foi a síntese de 6-metil-4-clorometilcumarinas com um IC50 menor do que 1,6 μM para atividade antitripanocida. Em outro trabalho, um grupo de compostos de híbridos cumarina-triazol foi sintetizado e apresentou potencial atividade como agente antitumoral. Baseado nesses trabalhos, foi planejado a síntese de análogos da 6-metil-4-clorometilcumarina via condensação de Pechmann, com diferentes substituintes na posição 6, obtidos através das reações de click chemistry, no intuito de aumentar a atividade antioxidante desses compostos. Assim, para obter esses compostos, foi realizada uma condensação de Pechmann com hidroquinona e 4-cloroacetoacetato de etila. Após, uma eterificação de Williamson com brometo de propargila foi feita. Finalmente, a reação de click chemistry foi realizada sob irradiação de micro-ondas com diversas azidas previamente sintetizadas no laboratório, conduzindo à obtenção de diversos análogos da 6-metil-clorometilcumarina que foram avaliados quanto a viabilidade celular através ensaio do MTT (brometo de 3-(4,5-dimetiltiazol-2-il)-2,5-difeniltetrazólio). Também foi testada a sua capacidade antioxidante pelo método do DCFH-DA (diacetato de 2’,7’ –diidroclorofluoresceína). Dessa maneira, sob as condições reacionais utilizadas neste trabalho, foi possível sintetizar 12 compostos inéditos com rendimentos entre 9 e 61%. Os ensaios biológicos preliminares indicaram que os compostos sintetizados apresentam potencial atividade antioxidante e algumas moléculas tiveram potencialidade como agente citotóxico. / Coumarins are secondary plant metabolites typically found in species of the Asteraceae, Rutaceae and Umbeliferae families that demonstrate diverse pharmacological properties associated with low toxicity to humans. Chemically, they are phenolic compounds characterized by the fusion of benzene with an α-pyrone ring, yielding the benzopyrone nucleus. Our research group usually synthesizes coumarins by the Pechmann reaction, through the condensation of phenols with β-ketoesters catalyzed by Bronsted or Lewis acids. One of the most recent works performed at our laboratory describes the synthesis of 6-methyl-4-chloromethylcoumarins with an IC50 of 1.6 μM concerning the anti-trypanocidal activity. Another work described the syntheses of coumarin-triazole hybrids with potential activity as anticancer agents. Based on the previous works, it was designed the synthesis of 4-chloromethylcoumarins via Pechmann condensation with several substituents at the position 6 of the coumarin ring through click chemistry reactions to improve their antioxidant activities. The synthesis of the coumarins started with Pechmann condensation using hydroquinone and ethyl 4-chloroaceacetate followed by functionalization of the phenolic hydroxyl with propargyl bromide via Williamsom ether synthesis. Subsequently, the click chemistry reactions were performed under microwave irradiation using different organic azides previously synthesized at our laboratory, yielding several 6-substituted-4-chloromethylcoumarin analogues which were evaluated for cell viability through MTT 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Their antioxidant capacity was also tested by the DCFH-DA (2’,7’–diihydrochlorofluorescin diacetate) method. Therefore, under the reaction conditions used in this study, it was possible to synthesize 12 novel compounds with yields between 9 and 61%. Preliminary biological assays indicated that the compounds synthesized have potential antioxidant activity and some molecules had potential as an antitumor agent.

The reaction of the chelating ligand 4-[4,6-bis(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl]-N,N-diethyl-benzenamine, L, with pentacarbonylchlororhenium by conventional heating method produces the complexes fac-[ReL(CO)3Cl2] and fac-[Re2L(CO)6Cl2] in a period of 48 hours. The use of microwaves as the source of heat and the increase in the equivalents of one of the reactants leads to a more selective reaction and also decreases the reaction time to 1 hour. After proper purification, the photophysical properties of fac-[ReL(CO)3Cl] were analyzed. The solid-state photoluminescence analysis showed an emission band at 628 nm independent of temperature. However, in the solution studies, the emission band shifted from 550 nm in frozen media to 610 nm when the matrix became fluid. These results confirm that this complex possess a phenomenon known as rigidochromism.